Farm Lichtenstein Enduro takes place soon!
The 3rd Enduro race of the season, organised by the Enduro Working Group-Namibia, will take place on Farm Lichtenstein this coming Saturday June 24th. Farm Lichtenstein at the same time acts as main sponsor for this offroad-event. Interested spectators are invited to come to the farm which lies 35 km south of Windhoek on the road to Rehoboth. The point of action will be signposted.
 Magda de Haan For the majority of readers Enduro races do not differ much from Moto Cross races. But that's far from it! The fact remains that only very few MX-riders in Namibia dare to take part in an Enduro. Endurance of man and machine is the main attribute of this code in motorsport. It would be excrutiating to take part in such a race with a Moto Cross bike – the specially designed Enduro-bikes are much better suited.
One never read it in the press, but Thomas Nützsche, called "Schrotti", has represented Namibia two times in the worldwide toughest Offroad-event, the "Six Days" race. We will hear what Thomas has to say:
"I can of course only report on what I have experienced myself. In the early 1980s the sport encountered some limitations in the whole of western Europe due to sanctions implemented by environmentalists. Special assessment-stages then only took place in quarries, sand-pits or on MX-tracks which had by-pass routes over public roads, which lead to strict controls by the police and so on.... and then the Endurists became fewer and fewer. In the former GDR for example, there weren't such limitations and after the German Unification, most events could be saved despite pollution control regulations, and still take place today. An example of such a traditional event is "Rund um Zschopau", with up to 40,000 spectators every year! But let's be honest, its not enough to make Germany one of the centres of Enduro sport. Endurists from countries like Sweden, Finland, France, Italy, or the UK have much fewer problems! Or even you guys from Namibia!"
Tell us something about the bikes, Thomas:
"Well you know, until the early 1960s Germany's motorbike industry was leading in the world and almost all manufacturers were represented some way or other in offroad sport. While BMW proved themselves on street tracks but also on oval-longtrack-competitions, the moped manufacturers aimed at success in the open field. Sachs, Zündapp, DKW, Maico, and European brands like Husqvarna, KTM, Puch, and brands from the Eastern Bloc like MZ, ESO (later Jawa) or Simson were successful. Then followed the downturn of European motorbike manufacturers and the niche was continually filled by the Japanese. However, since the 1990s there are again Euorpean manufacturers which make life tough for the Japanese bikes in the Offroad-segment. Just think of the enormous success KTM, but also MotoTM, Husaberg or GasGas had."
That's what our expert had to say.
Namibia also experiences a climbing tendency in Enduro-sport. On the one hand this is due to Magda de Haan's organising talent, and on the other hand, the fact that our country is just made for this kind of sport. Within just a couple of square kilometres, we find rubble passages, serpentines, high-speed passages, river passages, steep slopes... all this makes an Edurist's heart beat faster!
Now let's take a look at the favourites in the various classes: In the Motorbike-Class I (Open-Class) the big favourite is Ingo Waldschmidt. He won the first two races this season. In this category however there are two MX-riders who aren't afraid of the open bushveld. Shawn Bruwer came 2nd during the previous Joker's Enduro and his "Mad-Buzz-colleague" Ronnie Adams was still on 2nd place during the second leg, when a damaged front wheel threw him out of the race. Ronnie wants revenge! Heiko Hennes and Kai Hohmeier had some tough duels during the last race and it will also be exciting to see how Gino Rossi from Swakopmund will perform this time. Andreas Brendel and Henner Rusch have showed in the past that they are real offroad-aces. On the whole, the Enduro Working Group counts with 15 participants in this category.  Sascha Becker The starting group for the Motorbike-Class II (Clubmen's Class) should be even more crowded. In this class, former MX-rider Sascha Becker performed very well during the previous Enduro, being able to leave Butzer Störmer behind him. Henry Vincent, Dirk Trümer and Luke Pennefather will battle for podium-positions. Excitement is guaranteed!
It is great to see a "Wild Child"-Class III in Namibia, for kids on bikes up to 85ccm. Mark Sternagel, Claude Brendel and Tyrone Pieters had a hard battle going on last time.
As always, the Quad-Classes should have the most participants. Fanie Steenkamp should win the Quad-Class IV (Open-Class) but he has to reckon with some heavy opposition from Jan de Haan, Phillip Weakly, Clinton Hilfiker and Jean Venter. Not less than 20 Fourwheelers are expected in the Quad-Class V, where Gavin Murgatroyd is the great favourite. But, the track can be tricky and anything can happen, which means that guys like Riaan Fourie, Leroy Steenkamp, Tammo Phiel or Hein Venter can just as well land on first place on the rostrum.  90 degrees right!
Clinton Hilfik There will also be a Women's Class, as well as a Quad-Development-Class for the little ones. The little kids will also ride in the Motorbike-Class VIII (50ccm); the race will be carried out on a short part of the main track.
The track has a length of 41 km and has to be completed 4 times by the A-riders in the Motorbike- and Quad-Class IV. The rest will complete the route 3 times.
Afterwards everybody meets for the prize-giving at around 19:00 hours at Joker's Pizzeria and Sports Bar in Windhoek.
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